Manual Notice: 2006-1
From: Zane L. Webb, P.E., Director, Maintenance Division
Manual: Roadside Vegetation Maintenance Manual
Effective Date: April 01, 2006
Purpose
The Roadside Vegetation Maintenance Manual is being expanded and updated to clarify TxDOT policy and offer general guidelines on:
- maintaining highway vegetation in both urban and rural areas
- right of way mowing standards in various locations
- the use of herbicides to control noxious weeds and undesirable plants
- native and introduced flora found on rights of way
- pruning practices, and
- wildlife habitat considerations.
Changes
The existing Chapter 3 has been extensively revised and Chapters 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 have been added.
Chapter 1: Vegetation Management Guidelines (NEW) This chapter introduces the two levels of vegetation management along roadsides and provides guidelines for each level along with guidelines for handling special situations.
Chapter 2: Mowing Standards (NEW) This chapter defines and provides guidelines for the different types of mowing, with photos and graphics.
Chapter 3: Herbicide Operations (REVISED) This chapter has been extensively rewritten and edited to eliminate redundancies, refine language, add information on new products and techniques, and ease reading through the use of bullets and tables. In addition, the last two sections (15 and 16) have been switched so that the resulting Section 16 is now “Licensing and Other Information.” Most of the supplemental tables and charts formerly found in this section have been deleted from the manual itself, although all are still available through links that take the reader directly to the desired table or chart.
Chapter 4: Native and Introduced Grasses, Wildflowers and Legumes (NEW) This chapter discusses the establishment and maintenance of native grasses and wildflowers, how to obtain seeds, and how to propagate and plant wildflowers.
Chapter 5: Pruning Guidelines (NEW) This chapter focuses on why pruning is important, why, when and how to prune for safety and aesthetics, and pruning near utility lines, all with photos and graphics illustrating good and poor pruning practices.
Chapter 6: Vegetation Management and Wildlife Habitat (NEW) This chapter offers information on the role of roadsides in providing natural habitats for diverse wildlife and how to preserve and enhance these habitats for wildlife preservation.
Contact
Address questions concerning information contained in the Manual Notice to Randy Ormsby at (512) 416-3196.
Archives
Past manual notices are available in a PDF archive.